Slider for a reclosable pouch

ABSTRACT

A slider for opening and closing a mouth of a thermoplastic pouch includes first and second sidewalls. A third wall connects the first and second sidewalls and is transverse to the first and second sidewalls. A compressible gripping material is disposed on at least one of the first and second sidewalls.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable

REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

SEQUENTIAL LISTING

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to pouches, and more particularly, to reclosable pouches having sliders movable between ends of the pouch to open or close the pouch.

2. Description of the Background of the Invention

Ishii et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,358 discloses a zipper 23 and a pull-tab 21 connected to the zipper 23. The pull-tab 21 includes grip mounds 27 constructed of an elastic and roughened material that provides a slip resistant and easy-to-grip property.

Ishii U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,015 discloses a pull-tab 18 for a zipper 10. The surface of the pull-tab is formed of an elastic gripping material 23.

Ausnit et al. U.S. 2004/0136618 discloses in FIG. 2 thereof opposed zipper strips 17, 19 having interlocking closure members 20, 22, respectively, and also having first and second sealing members 24, 26, respectively. FIG. 10 shows alternative sealing members 38, 38′ made of a compressible foam material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a slider for opening and closing a mouth of a thermoplastic pouch includes first and second sidewalls. A third wall connects the first and second sidewalls and is transverse to the first and second sidewalls. At least one compressible gripping material is disposed on at least one of the first and second sidewalls.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a pouch includes a first closure element carried by a first pouch wall. A second closure element is carried by a second pouch wall. The closure elements seal a mouth of the pouch closed when pressed together. A slider traverses across the mouth of the pouch from a first end of the mouth to a second end of the mouth. The slider includes a channel having opposed walls in contact with exterior surfaces of the pouch. The slider further includes a separator finger disposed between the closure elements. At least one of the first and second sidewalls of the slider includes a compressible gripping material thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a pouch having a slider thereon;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view of the pouch and slider of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the slider of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the slider of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a bottom elevational view of the slider of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the slider of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view taken generally along the view lines 7-7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view taken generally along the view lines 8-8 of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a pouch 30 includes a slider 32 that moves between first and second ends 34, 36 of a mouth 38 of the pouch 30 for opening and closing the mouth 38. The pouch may be made from any suitable thermoplastic film such as, for example, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, substantially linear copolymers of ethylene and a C3-C8 α-olefin, polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, mixtures of two or more of these polymers, or mixtures of one of these polymers with another thermoplastic polymer. The end 34 includes an end stop 40, and the end 36 includes an end stop 42. Each of the end stops 40, 42 may be formed in any suitable manner such as by ultrasonically sealing opposed walls of the mouth 38 at the ends 34, 36. Referring to FIG. 2, the pouch 30 includes first and second pouch walls 44, 46 carrying first and second closure elements 48, 50, respectively. The first closure element 48 includes one or more ribs 52, such as first and second ribs 52 a, 52 b. Likewise, the second closure element 50 includes one or more ribs 54, such as ribs 54 a, 54 b. The ribs 52 a, 52 b include downwardly extending hook members 56, while the ribs 54 a, 54 b include upwardly extending hook members 58. When the closure elements 48, 50 are pressed together, the hook members 56, 58 interlock to close and thereby seal the mouth 38 in a closed state. The first closure element 48 includes a projecting rail 60, while the second closure element 50 includes a projecting rail 62. A surface 64 of a first guide portion 65 of the slider 32 underlies the rail 62, and a surface 66 of a second guide portion 67 of the slider 32 underlies the rail 60. The interference relationship of the surfaces 64, 66 with the rails 60, 62 inhibits removal of the slider 32 in the direction of an arrow A, generally perpendicular to the mouth 38 of the pouch 30. The first closure element 48 includes a flange portion 70 joined to the first pouch wall 44 in any suitable manner such as by a layer of thermoplastic. It should be noted that while the closure elements 48, 50 and the pouch wall 44, 46 are illustrated as separate structures, the closure elements 48, 50 could be integral with the walls 44, 46, respectively. The closure element 50 includes a flange portion 72 joined to the second pouch wall 46.

With reference to FIGS. 1-8, when the slider 32 is moved in the direction of an arrow C, a pair of closing bars 82, 84 disposed at a pinching end 86 of the slider 32 presses the ribs 52, 54 together to interlock same. When moved in the direction of an arrow O, a downwardly depending separating finger 88 disposed at a separating end 90 of the slider 32 disengages the ribs 52 from the ribs 54 to open the mouth 38.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 7, and 8, closing bars 82, 84 are disposed at or near the pinching end 86. The closing bars 82, 84 are disposed in close contact with exterior surfaces 92, 94 (FIG. 2) of the closure elements 48, 50. The closing bars 82, 84 may have a generally round shape as shown in FIG. 5 to inhibit tearing of the closure elements 48, 50 as the slider 32 moves therealong. The pinching end 86 includes guide portions 96, 98 having surfaces 100, 102 that underlie the rails 60, 62, respectively, to retain the slider 32 on the pouch 30. As shown in FIG. 2, the separator finger 88 need not extend down to the position of the lower ribs 52 b, 54 b and optionally might only extend from a top portion 104 of the slider 32 down to the position of the upper ribs 52 a, 54 a and such positioning may be sufficient to disengage both of the ribs 52 a, 52 b from the ribs 54 a, 54 b during movement of the slider 32 in the direction of the arrow O. The slider 32 includes curved gripping walls 106, 108, wherein the gripping walls 106, 108 may be non-interrupted or the gripping walls 106, 108 may include ridges or protrusions thereon. Each of the gripping walls 106, 108 includes a compressible gripping material 110 that serves as a comfortable gripping surface to enhance user gripping comfort as the user moves the slider 32 along the mouth 38. The compressible gripping material 110 may comprise for example, an open or closed cell foam, a thermoplastic elastomer, a compressible polymer, rubber, a textile, and/or any other material having cushioning, textured, or non-slip characteristics known to those skilled in the art. Further, the compressible gripping material 110 may be somewhat compressible under the application of finger pressure. In one embodiment, a two-shot injection molding process known to those skilled in the art may be used to construct the slider 32. A first shot of a thermoplastic elastomer is injected into a mold to form a body of the slider 32, wherein the body in part comprises the gripping walls 106, 108. Thereafter, the mold is adjusted to allow a second shot of thermoplastic elastomer into the mold to form the compressible gripping material 110 onto the gripping walls 106, 108. In a second embodiment, the compressible gripping material 110 is secured to the gripping walls 106, 108 by a suitable adhesive. The gripping comfort afforded by the compressible gripping material 110 may be especially advantageous for users opening and closing pouches numerous times per day or for users with sensitive fingers or perhaps even an arthritic condition.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The slider for opening and closing a pouch described herein advantageously provides for a compressible gripping material to be disposed on a sidewall of the slider. The compressible gripping material advantageously provides for a comfortable gripping surface to assist a user in opening and closing the pouch.

Numerous modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is presented for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to make and use the invention and to teach the best mode of carrying out same. The exclusive rights to all modifications which come within the scope of the appended claims are reserved. 

1. A slider for opening and closing a mouth of a thermoplastic pouch, comprising: first and second sidewalls; a third wall connecting the first and second sidewalls and transverse to the first and second sidewalls; and at least one compressible gripping material disposed on at least one of the first and second sidewalls.
 2. The slider of claim 1, wherein the sidewalls define a channel therebetween and a separator finger projects into the channel.
 3. The slider of claim 1, in combination with a pouch having closure elements.
 4. The slider of claim 3, wherein the closure elements are disposed between the sidewalls of the slider.
 5. The slider of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sidewalls are curved.
 6. The slider of claim 1, wherein the compressible gripping material is disposed on both of the first and second sidewalls.
 7. The slider of claim 1, wherein the compressible gripping material is disposed on at least one of the first and second sidewalls by molding the compressible gripping material thereon.
 8. The slider of claim 1, wherein the compressible gripping material is disposed on at least one of the first and second sidewalls by an adhesive.
 9. The slider of claim 1, wherein the compressible gripping material comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.
 10. The slider of claim 1, wherein the compressible gripping material comprises a foam.
 11. The slider of claim 1, wherein the compressible gripping material comprises a polymer.
 12. The slider of claim 1, wherein the compressible gripping material comprises rubber.
 13. The slider of claim 1, wherein the compressible gripping material comprises a textile.
 14. The slider of claim 1, wherein the compressible gripping material is compressible under the application of finger pressure.
 15. A pouch, comprising: a first closure element carried by a first pouch wall and a second closure element carried by a second pouch wall wherein the closure elements seal a mouth of the pouch closed when pressed together; a slider that traverses across the mouth of the pouch from a first end of the mouth to a second end of the mouth wherein the slider includes a channel having opposed walls in contact with exterior surfaces of the pouch and wherein the slider further includes a separator finger disposed between the closure elements; and first and second sidewalls of the slider wherein at least one of the sidewalls includes a compressible gripping material thereon. 